TrumpeterDonald Byrdwas just 2 years into his 2 decade long Blue Note recording career when he brought his quintet in to Manhattans Half Note Caf in November 1960 to record this soulful, swinging, and highly enjoyable live set of hard bop featuringPepper Adams on baritone saxophone,Duke Pearsonon piano,Laymon Jacksonon bass, andLex Humphrieson drums. Byrd had already established himself as a leading trumpeter on the scene and was riding high on a creative hot streak that produced the studio albumsOff To The Races,Byrd In Hand,Fuego, andByrd In Flight. After an introduction by WOV disc jockeyRuth Mason(who would later becomeRuth Lion, wife of Blue Note founderAlfred Lion), the band hits the ground running on Pearsons up-tempo My Girl Shirl before downshifting into Byrds blues Soulful Kiddy. Side 2 opens with a beautiful ballad performance of A Portrait of Jennie before stretching out on another original blues by Byrd titled Cecile and concluding Volume 1 with the bands theme Pure D. Funk.

Blue Note Tone Poet Series

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was broughtJoe Harley,a.k.a. the Tone Poet, on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) byKevin Grayto superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced byJoe Harley,mastered byKevin Gray(Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.

Tracklist:
Side A
1. My Girl Shirl
2. Soulful Kiddy

Side B
1. A Portrait Of Jennie
2. Cecile
3. The Theme